Pizzeria Owners Bake-Off, Spin-Off and Plan for the Future at Pizza Expo

The 32nd annual International Pizza Expo® is on track for record attendance at the Las Vegas Convention Center, March 7 – 10. More than 7,000 pizzeria owners and managers are expected for this industry gathering that is anchored by an exhibit hall featuring exhibits in an area approximately the size of six football fields. Innovative Canada will be on assignment working on a new and exciting video project to be announced in the near future.

The first exhibit hall day, Tuesday, March 8, will be kicked off by a keynote from celebrity chef and restaurateur Fabio Viviani, owner of several Italian-concept restaurants and a recognizable face from the “Top Chef” series as well as many other network television appearances.

More than 200 competitors will bake pizzas in five divisions for judging panels during the prestigious International Pizza Challenge™ running Tuesday through Thursday. Winners of the Traditional, Non-Traditional, Pizza Napoletana and Pan divisions will then vie on Thursday for the coveted Pizza Maker of the Year title. That bake-off involves a mystery ingredient all four finalists must use in a recipe created on the spot for the judges.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the World Pizza Games®, an Olympics-style competition for pizza makers, will crown the best in the world at the largest dough stretch, fastest pizza box folding, fastest dough forming and the ever-popular freestyle acrobatic dough tossing. The photogenic dough-tossing event features routines to music and competitors spinning multiple round doughs while performing amazing stunts in the front of the judges.

All the while, pizzeria professionals will be attending more than 100 workshops, cooking and baking demonstrations, and seminars to improve their businesses. They will also sample new food ingredients and products for their menus, see the latest in equipment and supplies, visit the Pizzeria 2020 exhibit and Craft Beer Pavilion and network with fellow operators from across the U.S. and around the world.

Record-Breaking Year Ahead: CEA Reports Industry Revenues to Reach All-Time High of $223.2 Billion in 2015

Emerging product categories’ revenue to grow 108 percent

Las Vegas, Nev., January 6, 2015 – Revenues for the consumer electronics (CE) industry are projected to grow three percent in 2015 and to reach an all-time high of $223.2 billion, according to The U.S. Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecasts, the semi-annual industry report released today by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®. The total revenues forecast was announced by CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro during his opening remarks today at the 2015 International CES®, the global gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technology, running January 6-9.

CEA’s consensus forecast reflects U.S. factory sales to dealers and covers more than 100 CE products. The twice-annual report serves as a benchmark for the CE industry, charting the size and growth of underlying categories.

While the emerging product categories represent less than five percent of the entire CE industry revenue forecast, they are expected to contribute almost $11 billion to overall CE revenue in 2015.

“Our forecast underscores that consumers’ love affair with technology shows no signs of slowing any time soon,” said Shapiro. “Consumer technology is all about continued innovation. In the blink of an eye, consumer demand has taken off for emerging categories such as wearables, unmanned aerial vehicles and 4K Ultra HD – categories that were too small to track just three years ago. Expect to see these burgeoning categories, as well as innovations across the full spectrum of consumer technology, on display this week at the 2015 International CES.”

Wearables
The wearable device revolution is a key category to watch in the coming years, and especially in 2015. CEA projects overall wearable unit sales will reach 30.9 million units (a 61 percent increase from last year) and generate $5.1 billion in revenue in 2015 (a 133 percent increase). CEA’s wearables category encompasses fitness activity bands and other health and fitness devices, as well as smartwatches and smart eyewear.

Health and fitness devices: Led by the popularity of activity tracking devices, health and fitness devices will lead unit sales among all wearables in 2015 with a projected 20 million units. Revenue is expected to surpass $1.8 billion in 2015.

These devices are expected to take off in 2015, selling 10.8 million units (a 359 percent increase) and earning a projected $3.1 billion in revenue (a 474 percent increase over 2014). Smartphones: As the sales leader of the industry, smartphone unit shipments are projected to reach 169.3 million this year, up six percent from 2014. Additionally, smartphone revenues are expected to generate $51.3 billion in 2015, a five percent increase from last year. Particular growth will be seen in screen sizes between 5.3 inches – 6.5 inches.

Tablets: Unit sales of tablets are projected to reach 80.7 million this year, a three percent increase from 2014. Revenues for tablets will reach $24.9 billion this year, down one percent.

“Mobile connected devices have reached an equilibrium, stabilizing the steep climb these products have experienced in recent years,” said Shawn DuBravac, Ph.D., chief economist, CEA and author of CEA’s soon-to-be released book Digital Destiny: How the New Age of Data Will Transform the Way We Work, Live, and Communicate. “Overall, improving economic conditions, consumer enthusiasm for new features and product categories, competitive manufacturer pricing and several other dynamics now at play should make 2015 an especially significant year for tech.”

Video
Larger screen sizes and innovative display features have more consumers upgrading their video experience. TV sales remain critical as the industry’s third-largest contributor to the total revenue with sales of TV sets and displays projected to reach $18.3 billion in 2015, down two percent from 2014.

4K Ultra High-Definition: The continued market growth of 4K UHD TV continues to perform better than expected in 2014. Unit shipments of 4K UHD displays are projected to reach four million in 2015 (a 208 percent increase). Revenue from 4K UHD displays is expected to exceed $5 billion in 2015, more than double its 2014 total (a 106 percent increase).

Other CE categories expected to enjoy positive growth in 2015 include audio, electronic gaming and laptops. Automotive electronics will see continued growth due to new vehicle sales in 2015, reaching $14 billion in revenue, a 3.3 percent increase.

The U.S. Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecast 2010-2015 (January 2015) is published twice a year, in January and July, reporting U.S. factory sales-to-dealers. It was designed and formulated by CEA, the most comprehensive source of sales data, forecasts, consumer research and historical trends for the consumer electronics industry. Please cite any information to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®. The complete report is available for free to CEA member companies at members.CE.org. Non-members may purchase the study for $2,000 at the CEA Store.

About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the technology trade association representing the $211 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative and regulatory advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also owns and produces the International CES – The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at CE.org, DeclareInnovation.com and through social media:

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What’s your BIG DATA Story.

Nova Scotia is a hotbed for big data analytics with companies taking advantage of our education system, research and development, and infrastructure. It’s happening all over the Province and we want to tell the world. Share your BIG DATA story and we may feature you on the official BIG DATA WEEK event blog and our social channels during Big Data Week May 5-11, 2014.

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“The Story of the Montague” is a film documentary of the search for the first known shipwreck in the Kings County area after the arrival of the New England Planters. The film will be presented by the Kings Historical Society and the filmmaker Innovative. Special thanks to the Investors Group for sponsoring the Premiere.

Months of research and filming have created this unique and fascinating story from our rich, historical past. Hear what the experts have to say and come see what has been discovered! There will be a panel discussion following the film.

Tickets ($12.00) are on sale at the Box of Delights in Wolfville, and both the Kings County Museum and R.D. Chisholm in Kentville. A limited number of tickets will also be available at the door. For more information call the Kings County Museum at 678-6237 or e-mail Innovative at info@ih.ca.

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“The Story of the Montague” is a film documentary of the search for the first known shipwreck in the Kings County area after the arrival of the New England Planters. The film will be presented by the Kings Historical Society and film maker Stephen Wilsack of Innovative. Special thanks to the Investors Group for sponsoring the Premiere.

Months of research and filming have created this unique and fascinating story from our rich, historical past. Hear what the experts have to say and come see what has been discovered! There will be a panel discussion following the film.

Tickets ($12.00) are on sale at the Box of Delights in Wolfville, and both the Kings County Museum and R.D. Chisholm in Kentville. A limited number of tickets will also be available at the door. For more information call the Kings County Museum at 678-6237 or e-mail Innovative at info@ih.ca.

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The guest speaker for the 50th Anniversary of Manning Chapel service was Reverend Jesse Zink. Jesse is a former chapel assistant and graduate of Acadia. He is currently engaged in PhD studies at Cambridge University in England. He was speaking about his own chapel experience and how it has impacted his work in ministry and areas of social action in South Africa. Video footage from Innovative in New Minas, Nova Scotia.

Early stage businesses / entrepreneurs are invited to submit their ideas for a new knowledge-based technology product or service online at www.innovacorp.ca. Round One submissions require a short overview of a business venture, due at 5:00 pm AST on October 18, 2013.

The competition has five geographic zones. Each zone will have a first place award package worth $100,000 and a second place award package worth $40,000. One provincial winner will be selected from the five zone winners, and awarded a $100,000 seed investment from Innovacorp. New this year are sector awards for information and communications technology, life sciences, clean technology and oceans technology.

Innovacorp runs this competition every two years, and all entrants will get feedback and receive a copy of The Art of the Start. Full competition details including eligibility and submission application are available on-line at www.innovacorp.ca. For more information, please contact Shelley Hessian at 424-8670 ext 1123 or by email at shessian@innovacorp.ca.

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What a great fall day in the Annapolis Valley. Be sure to check out the farm markets just outside of Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Thanks Stirlings for a great pumpkin display just outside of Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Photos by Innovative. www.ih.ca